Our easy to follow descriptions will assist you determine what balloon decorations are the ideal choice for your special event.
We felt overwhelmed with the huge variety of displays we came across when we started with balloon decorating. Along our learning process, we figured out that it all boils down to three essential designs:
Balloon Bouquet
Primarily used as a centerpiece for tables, the balloon bouquet truly is the heart of a balloon display. Between two and nine balloons, connected to curling ribbons, are organized in various heights and attached to a table base.
A balloon centerpiece may be crafted from latex OR mylar (also called foil) balloons OR you can combine them.
As the balloons have to be helium filled this choice determines the longevity of your balloon decorations. Whereas mylar balloons will float approximately 14 days, even the finest quality latex balloons won't keep up much longer than for about 12 to 24 hours. By working with a product called 'hi-float', it's possible to make them last 10 to 25 times as long!
Balloon Arch
Generally, balloon arches carry out their function best when you can walk through them! So they are best balloon decorations for a doorway or exit. Commonly they are also used to frame the head or cake table at a wedding or to design a magnificent stage decoration.
Unlike with bouquets you get the choice between helium or air-filled balloon arch.
A hovering arch is made of single helium-filled balloons organized like pearls throughout an invisible nylon line, hence the name "String of Pearls". The two ends are fixed to bases, similar to the table bases for bouquets, just a bit heavier and often basing on the floor. A brick or sand filled balloon will get the job done and can easily be decorated quite nicely.
With a "String of Pearls" - frequently utilized for wedding balloon arches - you generate an amazing outcome with reasonably little effort. The only disadvantage is the short longevity, because of the nature of helium-filled latex balloons, as explained above.
You could either use mylar balloons as an alternative of latex or you go for an arch with air-filled balloons if the decor for your specific event should last even longer.
With these kinds of balloon decorations, there is a bit more constructional labor involved, as an air filled balloon arch needs to have some supportive parts:
a structure made of a sturdy, flexible material such as conduit, PVC piping or aluminium rod and
a stable foundation at either end to secure the arch.
The pipe or rod is shaped into the actual arch and the balloons are connected to it, mostly in bunches of three to five balloons. By using a variety of colors and placing the balloons in a specific way you'll get this good spiraling result shown on the photo. Do not panic, we'll describe step by step and with numbers of photos how to do that!
Depending on the size of the arch you'll will have to blow up quite a few balloons! Get your family and friends ready! As an alternative you might use a hand pump or maybe rent or buy an electrical pump. This investment, obviously, only makes sense if you are intending to do many more balloon decorations.
A much less complex way to build an air filled balloon arch is by utilizing so called 'Link-o-Loon' balloons.
Balloon Columns
Positioned as excellent eye-catchers at each side of an entrance or head dining table at a wedding event, balloon columns are great for wedding balloon decorations. They also make excellent balloon decorations for defining an area of your venue, for instance the dance floor or the stage decoration.
As columns are commonly made from air filled balloons, supporting elements are required:
a strong metal or plastic pole and
a solid base as anchor for the rod.
The balloons are tied to bunches of often three to five balloons and fixed to the pole, layer after layer. Using bigger balloons for the top and the bottom, and smaller sized balloons in between, the balloon column takes the characteristic shape of its model in the "real" world. To crown your work you could position a stuffed giant balloon on top of the balloon column.
Like more info with the air filled arch, each of these balloon decorations imply you'll have to blow up a bunch of balloons! So, getting an inflator would be a great strategy, especially for blowing up the giant balloon that crowns your column.
Alternatively you might fill just the balloons at the bottom with air and the rest with helium. This way you would not need read more a sturdy base and a pole, as the balloons will support themselves. Make use of a nylon line to secure the balloon clusters to.
If you need to have the display specifically for one evening, a helium filled balloon column will do fine. It saves you the headache of building a frame and leasing an inflator. However, helium costs more air and the lifespan of the balloon decorations will be much lower.